canine body language

12/15/2010

Christmas came early this year, in the form of Marcus, arrived at Rainwood Kennels, Elkton MD all the way from Turkey, via a Virginia foster home. I have found that contacts seem to grow exponentially In the dog training business, and so it was that Marcus came to me: from a contact who knew a contact, who knew a contact. One link in the chain was Pat Miller, with whom I received my excellent foundation in dog training at her Peaceable Paws. Where to even begin: this adolescent dog of possible lab mix heritage is already tugging at my heart strings. His has been an improbable journey, one that is not yet finished. There is much work to be done, one painstaking step at a time. Much is good about Marcus: his quickness to learn, a dog who lives to play and one who can learn trust. Any dog from a background such as Marcus endured, inevitably carries wounds, now emotional in nature, that must heal. All involved fervently hope for the best, that the good in Marcus coupled with methodical and positive training, will outweigh his horrible beginnings. I imagine the training process may well be the subject of at least a few more blogs, and in the meantime, invite all to visit my Facebook page (see link on blog) to see pics and read ongoing training notes. Following is the firsthand account of a person instrumental in the rescue of Marcus from Turkey; all rescue workers deserve a special place in heaven. Keep in mind that down the road this special dog will be searching for a furever home. Pictures of Marcus show the amazing extent of the physical recovery. (he weighed 35 pounds when found and now weighs in at 67 pounds) I hope you will enjoy blogs to come, of a dog who has received another chance at life.

(Marcus in the large training room at Rainwood Kennels)

One more detour before getting to the rescue from Turkey! My friend and colleague Jeni Grant has written an OUTSTANDING BLOG on understanding the special needs of adopted shelter dogs. I would recommend anyone thinking about adoption or rescue to read this great information. Finally, the story, as told firsthand by a volunteer on the ground in Turkey.

Marcus was found in Turkey by an animal rescue group, “Let’s Adopt”, a now global online organization. Members of this group went several times a week to the forests outside Istanbul to feed dogs who had been dumped there by the municipal shelters. The shelters have a “no kill” policy in conformity with EU laws. However, the only aspect of animal care they made sure to enforce was spaying and neutering; the dogs picked up by the municipalities in response to citizen complaints were evidently fed sporadically at some shelters, and when their numbers grew, were dumped in the forest. Dependent on humans and their garbage for food sources, these animals are naturally unable to find adequate food in the forest. The group organized outings to feed the dogs several times a week.

In early May, I joined the Let’s Adopt folks for one of their feeding trips, involving vast quantities of bone-in raw chicken, kibble, and milk. Amid all the dogs who looked surprisingly and amazingly healthy, I saw Marcus, emaciated and isolated from the group. I asked the Let’s Adopt people about him and they told me he was new, evidently recently dumped. But he was clearly not used to being in a pack and, as we have subsequently learned, he finds other dogs threatening, for good reason – if food was given, he was clearly unable to compete to get enough of it.

I went over to give him chicken and he accepted it but as he looked up I saw that he appeared blind, with some kind of cataract film on both eyes. The group told me that they had a few dogs at the vet now – and limited resources -- but that as soon as space was available they would take him in. Needless to say, I had trouble sleeping that week, and by the end of the week I decided that I would sponsor him at the vet. We went the next Sunday and there he was, still looking pitifully thin and standing apart from the group. As we muzzled him and picked him up, he was terrified, but when I sat with him in the back seat he just leaned against me like he was very weary.

We managed to find a vet who dealt mainly with cats but had a garden in the back and a room where he could stay, and began the process of trying to heal him. They told me that he had kennel cough and was about a year and a half old; all that he really needed, they said, was love and food. It took him a while to recover and start putting on weight, and the vets had to change his antibiotic a few times. In any case, he did slowly improve with a steady diet of raw chicken, rice and eggs, and every day after school I’d walk across town to visit him. He moved very slowly and lay down often, quiet and very still. Outside, I would sit and try to encourage him to eat, but he’d try to take the leftovers and bury them for later.

After a few weeks we moved him to another vet, and his progress advanced dramatically. I had assumed he would need a cataract operation but his eyes fully cleared up; they had become cloudy only from malnutrition. By this point, recognizing that I could not keep the dog with all of our cats, but also seeing that this rescue group was overwhelmed, I concluded that I should just bring him to the US and try to find an owner here. My husband posted my photos of Marcus on a government website and within a few weeks a woman involved in animal rescue had talked her friend into taking Marcus from the airport and keeping him temporarily on her Virginia farm. Amazingly, it all worked – the Turkish rescue group brought him to the airport in his kennel on June 1st; I bought his cargo ticket; he got walked and fed during the Germany stopover; and by the end of a long and anxious day we zipped through customs and passed him on to his foster mom. He had two happy months of recuperating and then running around at the farm, where we found that he was initially not fully housebroken, but that he learned quickly, never climbed on furniture, and remained a quiet and very sweet fellow.

(Marcus enjoying a stuffed kong, his spacious indoor/outdoor run at Rainwood Kennels.)

Thanks for reading this story and for caring about rescued dogs. Now, I need to prepare for next week and the arrival of 4 MORE board/train dogs. And no, I am not ready for Christmas!

Until next time, Leslie and the labbies and a wonderful holiday season to all.

11/02/2010

Recently, I decided on a whim to contact the reporter writing the weekly On The Job profiles for the Cecil Whig, in Cecil County MD. I figured, why not? One of my philosophies is you don`t get anything if you don`t ask. And all they can say is no. Anyways, it worked out delightfully; Amy contacted me, I believe, the day following my email to her. By coincidence, she had already been cruising my website, but was unsure if I resided in Cecil County. With that clarified, she was good to go, came to Rainwood Kennel for the interview accompanied by Matt for the photo, and it was a wrap. I am really pleased with the results of our chat together, in the classroom of the kennel, accompanied by Bridget on a play rampage. Hopefully there will be an increase in business with the increased exposure; if not, I was able to get some points of concern into print!

Dog Trainer Leslie Fisher is a strong advocate for positive, force-free training. She sees the rewards of this method every day, not only with her own dogs but also with those she trains through her business Look What I Can Do! Dog Training. The business offers many services to pet owners including in-home private lessons, behavioral consultations, new puppy consultations and group training classes held at Rainwood Kennels in Elkton.

How did you get your start?

I grew up with dogs. I brought the first family dog home when I was 5. Kind of like a ‘mom, look what I found' type of thing. I grew up with never any less than three dogs in the household. I've never been without a dog. I was always aware of obedience training. I went through a number of classes with different dogs I had and I was really interested in it. Then I started raising puppies for Canine Partners For Life to be service dogs. That really got me thinking pretty seriously that hey, this is something I can really do and why not?

How did you train for the job?

I did a little bit of research and found a trainer in western Maryland, Pat Miller of Peaceable Paws, and she has a national, if not international, reputation as an author and positive pet trainer. I started taking her internships. She had three that I completed with a degree of excellence and I became certified as a Pat Miller Certified Trainer. Then I went on to get certification at the national level by taking my certified pet dog trainer exam. Sadly enough, anyone can go out and call themselves a dog trainer. Even more sadly, most clients do not know the difference.

What essential skills are required?

To be a dog trainer, you actually have to like people. I've heard other dog trainers say I became a dog trainer because I like working with dogs, I don't like people. Well, the other half of the equation is the owner. It's as much if not more about educating the owner on how to train their dogs. You need to be self-motivated and be able to work independently. You need to be able to think outside the box and think on your feet. You need to be able to market if you want to stay in business.

What is the strangest request/question you've ever had?

I had a prank - I would like to think it was a prank call. Somebody called me at 11 o'clock at night and they asked me if I could train their dog to bite.

Describe a typical day.

There's always a lot going on in my days. Obviously caring for, exercising and training my own dogs. Whatever appointments I have, preparing for those appointments and going out on those appointments. If I have a class in the evening, preparing for that class. Then there's all the other stuff, the always stuff; the e-mails, the follow-ups, responding to people having problems, responding to inquiries. Then all the networking stuff that's constant. I'm always networking through Facebook, Twitter. Problem solving with colleagues and reading articles.

What's the best part of the job?

I really love those light bulb moments when people really get it, when they really get something and the dog as well. A really big light bulb moment is when a dog lays down for the first time on a verbal cue. The owner will, there will be this great big smile on their face and wow, look what my dog just did. My dog can learn and I taught my dog how to do that.

What's the biggest challenge?

The ongoing mindset of people and trainers of the whole dominance thing. You have to dominate your dog. You have to show them who's boss. All these false beliefs that are so prevalent. Obviously the ongoing situations of just encountering dogs who have had unnecessary and harsh training that keep coming to me. I network with colleagues all the time about how can we most effectively get the word out there that this is not necessary. I write blogs contributing to the Never Shock a Puppy campaign.

Who succeeds as a dog trainer?

Somebody that likes people. I think somebody that had gone to the effort to really educate themselves and has knowledge of science and learning theories. Someone who can explain what they're doing in scientific terms. You need to be able to have a plan and know why you're doing what you're doing in terms of science and learning theory. And I think people that have credibility succeed. They've trained with someone known and they have national licensure. Obviously, people that know how to market themselves. Somebody that understands that learning is never over, because it's not.

What advice would you offer someone looking at a career as a dog trainer?

I would advise people to be able to communicate with people. You're a teacher. You're teaching people. You have to relate to all different personality types. You're gonna see them all. They should join a professional recognized group like the American Pet Dog Trainers Association. In other words, become a real professional, not just someone who hangs out a shingle and says I'm a dog trainer. And handle dogs, handle dogs, handle dogs. If you can't look at a dog and say what that dog is communicating through its body language, then you have no business being a dog trainer and that's all part of what comes with continuing to handle dogs.

10/25/2010

In yet another sign of the times, an email received today from Brieann, director of RUFF LIFE RESCUE, relayed news of another home foreclosure, more dogs looking for homes. This dog owner, from Rising Sun MD, is of course devastated that she is being forced to choose, is only able to take one of three dogs to new housing. We all think that we are immune, but the harsh news is ,anyone reading this could suffer the same bad luck. Please read the information from Jaime. If you are anywhere near Cecil County MD and could possible assist in finding a home for one of these senior dogs, it would be a blessing.

As follows, from the pet owner:

I am looking for help with my three dogs; I need to find them a new home. We have to move, because our house is being foreclosed, we found a place to rent and we can only take one dog. No exact date yet, sometime next month (November 2010). All the dogs will be 9 years old. Are you able to help?

Best way to contact me is email, jmekaz@yahoo.com or cell phone 443-224-8933. I am in Rising Sun, MD.

We have been giving the dogs their shots ourselves, as of right now they are behind in the rabies.

Bindi, female black lab, will be 9 end of this month, spayed.

Terp, male chocolate lab, will be 9 in January, neuter. He loves to play and run!

Chloe, female English Mastiff, will be 9 in August, spayed.

The labs are very friendly, the mastiff needs to get to know you then she is a big love bug. We received the mastiff from someone, just before she turned one, and that person abused her, so she needs to get to know you and trust you, then she is great. I will try and send you pictures later today or tomorrow. Thanks you for the help, I hate having to do this and I really want to make sure they are safe. I called the SPCA in Cecil County, and they said that they will not take them, I don't want to see them get put down, and they are good dogs!!Thanks again,Jaime

10/21/2010

New noise phobias can develop in dogs of any age;this happened recently with one of my own dogs. Yes, the Evil Dishwasher Monster was discovered in our midst. Five year old English Lab Talley has an anxious temperament in general, but she began to display some rather bizarre behaviors, running hiding and isolating herself in a favored cave. She spent entire evenings upstairs, wedged into her behind the bed cave. Overall her aspect became increasingly depressed and less playful. Upset with her discomfort we began searching for a behavioral cause. I noticed her looking anxious and vigilant when putting dishes into the dishwasher. The dishwasher diagnosis was confirmed when Talley bolted from the living room corner cave, to the bedroom cave, when the running dishwasher jolted loudly . All dishes were washed by hand in my old home; this was a novel experience for Talley. I felt supremely inadequate for failing to identify the source sooner.

Thinking back, other clues added up to the overall picture. During the period of excessive anxiety, Talley had a repeat bout of colitis, which, my Vet agreed, can be triggered by stress. Whether related or not, there were blocked anal glands thrown in, just for fun! Fortunately, noise phobias, once identified to a specific trigger, can be successfully modified. With her anxious temperament in general, it was not surprising to me that Talley developed this phobia. If left untreated, as referred to by Dr. Karen Overall, behavior will continue to deteriorate.

So, conquering the monster? As an Intern with Pat Miller, I learned this about behavior modification, and I have never forgotten; If you think you are going too slow, slow down some more. With that in mind, you need to have a definite PLAN, to begin modifying behavior in tiny increments. For instance, I began feeding Talley her meals near the non-running dishwasher. Due also to generalized anxiety, coupled with high levels of stress, my Vet and myself agreed that Talley would benefit from Clomicalm ,until resolution of the problem. Dr.Karen Overall is a proponent of medication sooner, rather than later, for extreme stress.

IDENTIFY STRESSOR(S)

Plan

Set Goals for each training session

Identify desired behaviors

Tiny increments

Following are the steps I took with Talley, without going into every minute detail. NOTE: With every step in your program, you will be ensuring your dog is not over stress threshold, displaying signs of anxiety such as panting out of context, ears back, tail lowered, running away, as examples. All behavior modification needs to be done within a comfort zone, below or at stress threshold. Sessions should be short. I urge anyone with a severe issue on their hands to consult a professional trainer.

In general, this process is desensitization (frequent exposure to stimulus in controlled environment) and counter conditioning (pairing aversive stimulus with GOOD STUFF)

DISH WASHER NOT RUNNING: begin feeding meals near it. Tricks and play interactions.

Place kibbles on floor around dishwasher, progress to kibbles on open door.

Hand targeting towards dishwasher. Open and close lid while eating.

Open close latch while tossing kibbles- Go Find it. Happy happy play.

Click dial on/off in association with food.

Begin DISHWASHER ON: motor on/off brief intervals of seconds, high value meat, then end with easier tasks with machine off.

PROGRESS: drawing out session during a meal, alternating hand feeding, kibble toss, higher value treats randomly, hand targeting, tricks. Now happily tolerating ~ half a cycle without undue stress, ending with play, going outside. At one point Talley would not return inside when the machine was running. Now she will, staying downstairs instead of fleeing to an upstairs cave. Oh happy days.

Dogs communicate to us all the time, and bizarre behaviors happen for a reason. My labs are always giving me a new challenge, allowing me to help others with my experiences. Seeing our dogs terrified is very upsetting;can you imagine how happy I am to have my bright eyed playful English Lab restored to her normal self. Happy days are here again. To our dogs, the offending noises truly are monsters and they rely upon us to make the monsters go away.

I am hoping readers will take the time to visit Kim Clune`s Be The Change For Animalsnew cause, the PLUS ONE MOVEMENT Find out how you can become involved (it`s easy) and help shelter animals recieve needed food. Passionate about an animal welfare cause? Kim is looking for you, to contribute to the cause!! Also, under Helpful Websites, on the top left of the blog, you will find a list of bloggers doing great work! This is just a start; I will be adding to the list as I get time. And, if you go to my main website, there is a new SUBSCRIBE button; you can be added to the Look What I Can Do! newsletter. Or, perhaps I will see you on Facebook or Twitter!! Happy reading!

10/11/2010

This blog is part of an ongoing campaign to educate people about the dangers of using shock collars, in conjunction with NEVER SHOCK A PUPPY. Feel free to share the link and the blog, if you personally know someone who has made the choice to use a shock collar on their puppy or dog. Combined individual efforts will work over time, to help change the choices people make, with education.

When greeting a stranger, do certain behaviors not occur, given your social expectations? Thinking of standard professional introductions, eye to eye contact, a smile, a cordial verbal greeting and a polite handshake: all to be expected. However, what if your greeting was unwelcome, and communicated by application of a taser to your chest? Suddenly normal social expectations went out the window. What happened? Why did that happen? You were only trying to say hello. Are people not to be trusted anymore? What if it keeps happening? What will you do? Will you become defensive? Perhaps even arm yourself? Get the person before they can get you?

Now, imagine a puppy, leaping up happily to greet a stranger coming into his home, only to feel horrible and unexpected pain around his neck. What happened to the anticipated lovely attention? Where did that come from? This sad scenario is one I keep imagining. Somewhere out there, a puppy was indeed shocked for jumping up to greet a stranger. A puppy that never came to me for training. A puppy I was made aware of by a client, concerned for the welfare of the puppy. Despite their best efforts and voiced concern to the person shocking the puppy, I am supposing the shock collar was continued. What happened to that puppy? Did that puppy learn fear and aggression in response to strangers? Perhaps I will end up seeing that puppy for behavior modification.

Sadly, the puppy would indeed associate the sudden pain with the stranger in the environment, as both events occurred simultaneously. With repetition, the association is negatively conditioned. Stranger appearing equals pain equals strangers are scary. There are two choices in this event. Run away. Defend. Often, even though dogs are fearful, a defense is chosen, learned responses evolve and become increasingly aggressive. Or, they are shocked into submission, wary, fearful and un-trusting of the world around them. Dogs need a predictable environment to feel safe. How could they feel safe when anticipating pain? Would you? This sad situation happens. Puppies and dogs become needlessly aggressive, due to thoughtless application of shock collars. Yet the sale of shock collars goes on.

Recently I overheard a sales clerk in a pet store happily explaining all the settings on a shock collar to a couple with a dog in tow. Shocking the dog was being discussed rather matter of factly. I wonder if they went home and slapped their kids? Why is it ok to shock a dog, but have different expectations for human conduct towards others. In my first greeting scenario, with the taser, law enforcement would have been called to the scene, perhaps a prison sentence, lawyers. Yet the shocking of puppies and dogs goes on. People who know nothing about dog behavior continue to sell harmful devices. This is just inherently wrong. Perhaps people should require a license to both sell and purchase them. Even better, a complete ban, as some countries have done. Wales Bans Shock Collars/More There is an ongoing and rather interesting discussion on this link as well.

As you go through your days, think about appropriate social greetings with strangers, and the scenarios I have described. Think about painful and unexpected events taking place as you reach to shake hands with a stranger. Think about all the puppies and dogs that continue to be shocked. Think about becoming involved in some small way, even if it is just to share this blog and campaign with someone.

10/08/2010

October is an important month for those in rescue;Adopt A Shelter Dog Month My mission is to reach as many pet owners as possible, to help improve the human-canine relationship, with a wide variety of ongoing classes. Training significantly improves the chances of a dog remaining with family, and serves to strengthen the bond between two species. In keeping with this special month, I am beginning classes geared towards those who foster dogs, and would like to do something extra for that dog, to improve chances of being adopted. I am beginning a Foster Dog class, for those dogs actively being fostered, prior to adoption, at what I believe is a reasonable rate. To help me reach the many many dogs out there needing to be adopted, please forward, tweet or facebook! I appreciate your efforts to send my newsletter onwards. Class details will be outlined in a separate block. As always, I continue to educate clients about puppy mills; this is an excellent and informative link. Help Stop Puppy Mills Feel free to send this link onwards. As always, you can find me hereand here for lots of dog training tips, discussions and articles. Hope you enjoy this article on my puppy mill rescue lab Doobie, written for Dog Star Daily Reading is knowledge! My intent is to provide many useful sites, links and articles in each newsletter, as well as keep you posted on upcoming classes. Read on!

COOPERATION VS COERCION: WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAYS? COOPERATION VS COERCION Written by colleague and friend Casey Matthews-Lomonaco, talented dog trainer, writer and owner of Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in New York. Be sure to follow her blog for great training information.

Please feel free to forward newsletter to anyone in rescue, or any dog owner who may be interested. There will be a new sign up button directly on my website. Happy reading!

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN GRAD MARLEY and Upcoming CGC Testing Event

Very happy owners, big grins all around! NEXT CGC TESTING EVENT

Working towards the goal of Canine Good Citizen is just another rewarding form of dog-canine interaction. The more we do with our pals, the closer and more rewarding the dog-human relationship. Advanced classes work towards CGC skills. Read on for class updates in the next section. SATURDAY OCTOBER 30TH at 11 AM, RAINWOOD KENNELS, ELKTON MD, will be the next test date. Dogs will be tested in order of arrival. Advance notice is required by calling 443-350-6820 or email lookwhaticando@zoominternet.net. Let me know if I can help you towards achieving this exciting goal.

PET HEALTH CARE GAZETTE is one of my favorite sources for the latest in pet health care issues and information, written by facebook and Twitter friend Lorie Huston. One of the most recent articles was on pet CPR, something we all need to know about. Being prepared for an emergency is the best defense!

In keeping with the NEVER SHOCK A PUPPY CAMPAIGN a tip on use of shock collars, which I never recommend. When a dog experiences the pain of being shocked, there is immediate aversive and negative association to whatever is in the environment when the shock takes place. This could be: dogs, people, kids walking past the property, delivery people, visitors coming into the home. Use of shock begets fear, lack of trust, confusion for the dog (unpredictable environment and not feeling safe) as well as aggression. Get involved and join the campaign. Spread the word!

I hope you are getting the chance to get out and enjoy the brilliant fall foliage with your furry friends! Keep in mind that learning is a life long process, and that ongoing mental and cognitive stimulation is beneficial to your pal. Also, knowledge is power! I hope you have found the articles and links useful; my intent is to make this a very informative and educational newsletter for everyone. Hope to see you soon! Never dull moment with the labs. The latest adventure has been to conquer the scary evil dishwasher monster for Talley, sure to be the subject of a blog. Until next time,

09/14/2010

Dog owners are always on a quest for information on how to contain their dogs, so I hope this blog on vinyl panel fencing will help you reach a decision. Two criteria for myself has been met with this fencing. Effective: so very important for the proud owner of confirmed four-footed escape artist otherwise known as Bridget. If there is a way to get out of the yard, Bridget has done it. Below is the escapist, pictured with some of my sad pathetic and, dare I say, unattractive attempts to "Bridgetize" the yard.

Effective fencing is imperative for noise reactive adopted Doobie, very much triggered to react strongly to movement paired with loud noise, such as the dirt bikes in the neighborhood. Talley reacts badly to sudden changes in her environment,the latter of which could include a stranger suddenly appearing around the corner of the house. Both Doobie and Talley will run barking towards that which frightens or startles them. Yes, I have my hands full, and yes, effective and humane fencing is going up in back yard of my new home. The project is now!

Humane: a prime consideration for myself, as a positive reinforcement dog trainer, committed to NOT using aversive tools. Underground fencing, increasingly popular these days, with accompanying electric shock collars, is most definitely an aversive tool that I would not use on my own dogs, or, recommend to any client. I see far too many reactive dogs with serious behavioral issues that live behind the barrier of an invisible fence. The scope of my article is to discuss the benefits of the fencing being installed here, so will refer to an excellent article by the prominent trainer and author Pat Miller, discussing the dangers of using shock collars. Download Simply Shocking So curious about what kind of fencing actually is being installed?

These 6` X 6 ` vinyl panels are currently being installed. A home owner with a bit of savvy should be able to manage as a do-it-yourself.

Following a list of advantages to these vinyl panels:

Low maintenance with exception of posts- should be painted or treated.

Even the most athletic dog should have extreme difficulty in jumping the 6` height. (have seen Talley clear 4 and 1/2 ` mesh around asparagus at a single leap.)

The panels are attractive and decorative yard items can be placed on the posts.

Climbing escape artists will have no purchase on the slick surface of the vinyl.

For your diggers, panels can actually be set into the ground.

Solid. These panels are not going anywhere once set in their brackets, posts set in quick-crete.

Long lasting. Once installed will last for years.

Low cost- if you can find the right deal. Never hurts to negotiate. We got an additional 10% moving discount from Lowe's, and zero % interest for a year on a store credit card, which we plan to have paid for in a year.

PEACE OF MIND!!! I seriously cannot wait.

If you have been researching fencing, then here is a humane and effective option for you. Keep in mind that underground shock collar fencing:

Not so humane.

Can create behavioral issues.

Extremely aroused dogs will run right through the shock barrier. And attack what is on the other side. I have had clients whose dogs have done just that.

Once your dog is outside the fence, they will not re-enter the yard. That`s a given.

I have seen extreme cases of fear where dogs will lay down in the yard and refuse to move.

What is going to keep aggressive loose dogs OUT of your yard?

Anyone going by will be able to interact with your dogs in whatever fashion they choose to.

Batteries fail on the collars and dogs are not stupid about not hearing the warning tones.

I just don`t like them.You have subject your dogs to electric shock!

Would never recommend them. Did I mention that I just don`t like them?

Best of luck to you in pursuit of humane and effective fencing solutions for your own furry kids.

09/07/2010

Hello again! Life events do conspire to prevent blogging. One of those events has been an invitation to blog at Dog Star Daily, and I hope you have had a chance to connect with me there. My intention is to keep posting blogs at this site as well. Getting to the subject matter, I noticed this phrase in a newspaper advertisement: "Breakthrough Antioxidant" Diabetic Drink Hailed a Miracle." My philosophy is simple; if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The latter can be applied across the board to advertising slogans and catch phrases in any industry.

Here are some reasons why I believe that dog training cannot be unequivocally guaranteed.

For whatever reason, follow-ups, whether client or trainer based, do not continue.

There is no magic wand for a quick fix in dog training.

Much depends on clients who are committed to following a plan.

People become frustrated and give up.

Dog behavior continues to evolve and change, from the original behavior.

It takes time to arrive at end result desired behaviors.

I don't think that a dog-human relationship can be guaranteed.This is what dog training is, after all. A dog-human bond.

Not all trainers have the expertise to deal with all behavioral issues.Period!

As a dog trainer, I do field inquiries from potential clients asking about the kind of a guarantee I offer. Certainly I am aware that many trainers do routinely guarantee results. The response I typically give is " I can guarantee your dog will learn something new." To myself this is reasonable and achievable. Whether this is something as basic as learning attention, all dogs are capable of learning some new behavior. In my opinion, ethics comes into play, when an ironclad guarantee to a behavioral problem is stated in a training contract. How can one ethically provide this kind of a guarantee before one has even worked with a dog? There are times when I refer out to Veterinary Behaviorists, knowing a dog is beyond my scope. No dog trainer can know everything about dog training. The field continues to evolve, and any professional trainer should be keeping abreast of developments and trying new methods, instead of sticking to the same old same old.

At any rate, I spend little, if any time, developing any kind of guarantee jargon on my website. Any kind of dissatisfaction is dealt with on a case by case basis. On any given website, you will want to see more about how the trainer is evolving in their practice, and their involvement in professional pursuits. The following, in my opinion, would be red flag jargon.

astonishing secrets

instant dog obedience

100 % Free

unlimited

special offer

guaranteed results

can train any dog

money back guarantee

lifetime guarantee

Why focus so much time on writing guarantees? This is my story and I am sticking to it. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Can dog training really be guaranteed?

As a footnote, I would like to direct attention to the following website www.btc4animals.com based on effecting humane change for animals. If you blog, become involved by "blogging the change for animals." No individual action is too small.

Until next time, Leslie and the labbies.

CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator

Look What I Can Do serves all of Cecil County MD, areas of Bear, Newark and Middletown DE, Havre de Grace and Bel Air MD, as well as communities near Oxford PA.

05/26/2010

Was I ready for Doobie? Not really. As we say in the business, Doobie, a 5 year old American Lab rescued from a puppy mill, was a failed foster. One look at his beaten down by life demeanor was all it took. I knew that first night his journey was over and that he had come home. The apple fell close to the tree; my life long rescuer mother would have been proud of me. Ready for what, you might ask? A dog existing all his sad life in puppy mill purgatory comes equipped with his own special needs. I really gave it no thought at all before committing to the adoption. I suppose I thought I would deal with the issues as they presented themselves. As a dog trainer working with many fearful dogs, at least I had experience on my side.

A year later, Doobie has made wonderful progress. New challenges arise and they are dealt with. Is Doobie normal? No. Will he ever be entirely well adjusted? Probably not. Was it difficult to find the time when already owned by two other young energetic labs? You betcha. However, to observe Doobie blossom, learn trust confidence and develop his own distinct personality, has been one of the greatest joys of my life. This dog has taught me about resiliency, coping, trusting and adapting. However it has not been easy, no two bones about it. These dogs really do need special care, time and commitment. I want folks going into this to have their eyes wide open. Without a doubt, any such adult puppy mill rescue will:

have generalized fear. (lack of socialization is a given)

not be house trained. (Doobie was not)

be afraid to go in a crate. (they spent their life in a cage)

have no training and no skills.

cope poorly in a new environment (literally learning to live in an alien world)

never have even been in a house.

be afraid of common household noises.

very likely will view children as aliens.

While that list is a pretty fair start, by no means is it complete. Wait, you`re saying. Do you mean we should not adopt these dogs? Not at all. What I want is for people to know what to expect, and be prepared for the remedial house training, gentle and gradual socialization required, and basic understanding of fearful dogs. Sadly, I have had overwhelmed clients. Happily, I have also had clients whose dogs were able to progress, when needed support was obtained. There is the crux of the matter: having a support system in place. You may want to consult with a licensed positive trainer and do some reading before you even bring your rescue home. Make inquiries of your rescue organization of the support system they offer. Here are a few resources, some of the best in my opinion.

Go to www.fearfuldogs.com and read read read. A book I refer clients to frequently is Help For Your Fearful Dog: Nicole Wilde, available at www.dogwise.com Certainly it cannot hurt to review house training and crate training methods, of the gentlest nature possible. A great overall reference is Positive Perspectives 2: Pat Miller, available from the same source. Expect that there will be fear to some degree, and make the environment as stress free as possible. Give these dogs time to adjust and take things very slowly. Under no circumstances should these timid souls be corrected for behaviors in which they are communicating fear. Constant reinforcement is what will turn these dogs around, as well as having basic understanding of their behavior, and being able to adjust to their needs.

I can only hope you experience the joy I have, in watching a dog learn to be a dog, in watching a dog beaten down by life learn to play and romp. Every effort I have made has been returned tenfold by a loving soul. Do some preparation, and please, call for help sooner rather than later, if needed. This will be one of the most rewarding journeys you will embark upon. Feel free to contact me and send some of your own rescue stories; I would love to hear them. Best of luck to you with your puppy mill rescue. Cheers to www.lab-rescue.com for the wonderful work they do.

05/22/2010

With many blogs and tweets this week addressing the subject of dog bites, thought I might as well hop on the bandwagon for National Dog Bite Prevention Week. You might imagine, per the title, a dog processing the environment, deciding just that, to bite or not to bite. Having said that, bites mainly occur when a dog is pushed beyond a level of stress they can not tolerate, and are no longer particularly cognitive. By the time a dog bites, the process is instinctive and occurring in a non-cognitive frame of mind. Consider the following, if you will, from a doggy point of view:

I`m so upset from that fight, I`m just going to chomp on this arm grabbing at me.

Oh my dawg, that is one huge scary stranger and I`m stuck in the corner.

REDIRECTED AGGRESSION (first point)

Dogs engaging in scuffles are highly aroused, and operating beyond normal stress thresholds. Reaching in to grab a collar is one really great way to get bitten, by a dog whirling around to latch onto the first thing crossing its` jaws. Do you own multiple dogs or frequent the dog park? Have a plan for breaking up a dog fight that does not involve reaching in with hands. More on redirected aggression here: http://www.sspca.org/Dogs/AggressiveBehavior.html

RESOURCE GUARDING (second point)

The above describes a dog with a valuable resource (bone) that they will strive to hang on to, even if it means sinking teeth into human flesh. All dogs should be taught to Give/Drop/Release, whichever cue you chose to attach to the behavior of willingly trading an object for reinforcement. Humans should also recognize signs of resource guarding as having a high risk for bites. More tips on this subject here: http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/RG.html

KIDS ARE ALIENS

Some dogs have not been well socialized with children, and new encounters have potential to go badly. Even well socialized dogs can be pushed beyond maximum stress thresholds when humans fail to recognize signs of stress. For obvious reasons, no child should be left unattended with any dog, no matter how "child proof" they are considered to be. I have had the pleasure of seeing author Colleen Pelar present, and here is a link to one of her wonderful articles: http://www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com/article08.html

FEAR AGGRESSION

A fearful dog that is presented with a visual threat, especially one that feels cornered, will opt to bite if there is not another way out. (retreat) Humans need to advocate for their fearful dogs and teach others to use non-threatening body language. As well, owners of fearful dogs need to recognize signs of stress and manage the environment accordingly. Visit www.fearfuldogs.com for a wealth of information on the latter subject and all things fearful, according to canines.

Please do not unwittingly place yourself in harms way and become a dog bite statistic. With proper education, dog bites can be prevented. With proper education of humans, more dogs will opt not to bite, having not been placed in untenable (for them) situations. Happy and safe Dog Bite Prevention Week!